In the glass, the Matello 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.9%) was a clear, garnet red, delivering aromas of dusty cherry fruit and pie crust to the nose. On the palate, this Oregon pinot offered a nice mouthfeel, with generous cherry fruit, good acidity and a decent finish. We paired this wine with a spicy pasta and bean soup my wife made using a recipe from Bon Appetit. The Matello complimented this meal, holding up well to the medium spice in this dish. To ensure the spice wasn't adversely impacting my experience with this wine, it was drunk without food...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:42 AM | Permalink

What a terrific Oregon pinot noir for $20. The Matello 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.3%) was a cloudy, ruby red in the glass with notes of strawberry and hints of earth and menthol delivered to the nose. Flavors of bright cherry fruit with balanced acidity led to a very nice, silky finish. I found this wine represents much of what I like about the 2007 vintage. And it's even better considering its quality/price ratio. We paired the Matello with a homemade chicken pot pie, a dish our neighbor crafted for us on the spur of the moment. I...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:05 PM | Permalink